Youth Hockey Referees Abused by Parents Are Quitting in Droves

Angry parents are not a new phenomenon at kids’ sporting events, but some parents of youth hockey players are driving referees away from the sport. Instances of broken safety glass, threats of violence, and even physical fights are among the outrageous examples of parents’ bad behaviour. A group of youth referees in Massachusetts who spoke to Inside Edition say they’ve had enough of the abuse. Chris Henry described how he once had to barricade himself in a locker room to hide from parents.